Deltona defeats No. 1 Eustis to make state tournament
EUSTIS — Deltona knocked out 2021 state champion and No. 1-ranked Eustis while punching its own ticket to this week’s FHSAA girls softball state tournament with a come-from-behind road win over the Panthers on Monday night.
Sophie Strempel’s RBI double, scoring Veronica Pickett with two outs in the top of the sixth inning for Deltona (18-3), was the game-winner. That broke a 3-3 tie in the Class 4A Region 2 final.
Eustis (25-3) led before the Wolves scratched out a run in the fifth inning to pull to within 3-2. In the sixth, Deltona junior Morgan Davis tied the game with a solo home run.
Deltona lefty pitcher Katie McCaw struck out 11 batters.
Eustis pitcher Libby Levendoski fanned 13.
The game was scheduled for last week but was postponed Friday and again on Saturday due to inclement weather.
Deltona will join Lake Brantley, Groveland South Lake and The First Academy of Orlando as area teams in this week’s Florida High School Athletic Association state tournament, which opens Tuesday at the Legends Way Ball Field complex in Clermont.
Eustis was No. 1 and Deltona No. 2 in FHSAA power rankings entering region play.
State semifinal games in 4A are set for 10 a.m. and noon Thursday. Eustis will face Clay High School (14-11) of Green Cove Springs. The other semi pits Key West (19-3-1) against Lake Wales (20-7).
The championship game is set for 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Admission to state tournament games is $9 in advance through the GoFan.co app and $12 on day of games. Parking
is $10. All contests will be streamed online for a fee at NFHSnetwork.com.
The five-day state tournament starts Tuesday. Here are the other state semifinal matchups with Orlando area teams.
Class 2A, Tuesday
No. 2 Fort Myers Evangelical Christian (21-6) vs. No. 3 The First Academy (21-6), 7 Buzz: First-time state tournament teams both lost in region final round in 2021. TFA is coached by former Pine Castle Christian state champion player Kaley (Bitterman) Gangelhoff. Senior Hannah Harper, who is batting .500 (46-for-92) for Royals, owns a 1.24 ERA with 160 strikeouts. Next: No. 1 West Palm Beach Oxbridge Academy (21-1-1) or No. 4 Jacksonville University Christian (18-8), Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Class 5A, Thursday
No. 1 South Lake (18-11) vs. No. 4 East Bay (17-12), 2 Buzz: Former UCF player Kahley (Novak) Armstrong, a 2011 East Ridge graduate, is in her third season as head coach at South Lake. The Eagles, who previously reached state semifinals in 1997 and 2008, are led by sophomore shortstop Destiny Johns (35-for-93, 14 RBIs, 21 runs) and junior pitcher Alanna O’Brien (2.42 ERA, 121 strikeouts). Next: No. 2 Middleburg (18-11) or No. 3 Naples (20-6), Friday at 7 p.m. Class 7A, Friday
No. 2 Lake Brantley (24-4) vs. No. 3 Park Vista (22-5), 1:45
Buzz: First-year head coach Jacob Stanley has Patriots in state tournament for first time. Lake Brantley, which lost in last year’s regional finals, owns two wins this season vs. defending state champion Bradenton Lakewood Ranch. Senior pitcher Hannah Marien is 16-3 with a 0.10 ERA and 232 strikeouts in 139.1 innings pitched. Next: No. 1 Lakewood Ranch (28-2) or No. 4 Davie Western (16-81), Saturday at 5:30 p.m.